Done deal: Govt, TTP committees finally agree on venue for direct meeting with TTP Shura

Venue for meeting has been a sticking point in the dialogue process

ISLAMABAD: In a major breakthrough, the  Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government committees finally agreed on a location for the highly-anticipated direct meeting between the government committee and the TTP Shura (advisory council) - a matter that had thus far been a sticking point in the dialogue process. 

The meeting was held today in Punjab House and lasted over two hours.

Speaking to the media after the meeting today, Maulana Samiul Haq of the TTP committee stated that the discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere. He did not reveal what would be the exact location of the Shura meeting but did say that the venue for the meeting could be declared a peace zone.

Background

The government had been reluctant to accept locations suggested by the TTP due to safety concerns, whereas the TTP had expressed apprehensions of being targeted by security forces in areas suggested by the government.

Prior to the meeting today, the government and the TTP had shortlisted two venues for crucial face-to-face talks that seek to end years of violence through an elusive peace deal, officials had said on March 19.

The possible venues for the maiden meeting between government negotiators and the Taliban include the little-known Shaktu area in South Waziristan Agency and Frontier Region Bannu.

The venues were shortlisted during a meeting of the government’s reconfigured negotiating committee chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who had also consulted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Samiul Haq (JUI-S) Maulana Samiul Haq. Haq is also heading the TTP intermediary committee.

The two committees will also discuss the list given by the TTP to the government of women and children allegedly detained by security forces in various areas of Pakistan.

On March 17, TTP intermediary Professor Mohammad Ibrahim had stated that the Taliban had provided the list to the interior minister.

Thirdly, there will also be a discussion on the 'peace zone' advised by Haq. On March 17, the JUI-S chief had said that the TTP wanted a “free peace zone” for the purpose of peace talks in which they can travel without fear of being arrested.

The peace talks process between the Taliban and the government entered the next stage of the peace talks process after Taliban committee members met senior Taliban leadership on March 14, 2014.

TTP's fresh concerns

Meanwhile, TTP has voiced fresh concerns about being targeted by security forces.

TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid in a statement given to the media alleged that the government has increased shelling in tribal areas since the announcement of ceasefire.

The TTP had announced a ceasefire on March 1 asking all its affiliates to put a halt to all sorts of ‘Jihadi’ activities for a period of one month.